Book-theory-test-online.co.uk fined £85,000 for ripping off drivers

Book-theory-test-online.co.uk offered a "Pass Protection Guarantee Scheme" but was ripping people off

A man answers the door at Ashraf’s house but says: ‘I’ve never heard of him’ (Photo: Jon Fuller-Rowell)

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

Here's a horribly sneaky way to rip off people booking their driving theory test online.

The website book-theory-test-online.co.uk offered a "Pass Protection Guarantee Scheme". This was supposed to cover the cost of a re-take if you failed the theory test the first time round.

"With our pass protection guarantee you don't need to worry - we'll pay for a second test if you fail the first one!" it crowed.

But the small print revealed that you'd only get a free re-sit if you failed the multiple choice part of the test with a score of 42 out of 50. It didn't reveal that the pass mark is 43. So if you failed by more than one mark, the guarantee was worthless and there'd be no free re-sit.

The site is run by 33-year-old Waqar Ashraf, of Saltley, Birmingham, and it's got itself into trouble - though not over the re-sits sting.

Driving theory tests can be booked for £31 through the official site, and people using Ashraf's site might have thought this was a government or Driving Standards Agency site because it used "DSA" and "gov. uk" in its web addresses.

Ashraf's site raked in extra money on an 0905 premium rate phoneline, with victims typically spending £52 on calls, though one was charged as much as £95.

And they still had to pay the official £31 fee on top of this.

Now Ashraf has been fined £85,000 by the premium rate phoneline regulator PhonepayPlus, which stepped in after victims complained about "the length of calls, pricing prominence and customer service.

A number of complainants also stated that they were under the impression that they were calling the official DSA contact number."

The watchdog ruled the breaches of its code "very serious" and besides the fine ordered Ashraf to pay full refunds within 28 days to customers who complained.

I went to Saltley to ask Ashraf if he wanted to comment on the penalty but despite turning up at the house that he owns, the man who answered the door said: "I've never heard of him.".

Odd then, that we've shown a picture of this chap to two people who both say it's Waqar Ashraf - clearly they must be mistaken.

His neck of the woods has become the epicentre for online driving test scams.

At the end of May the Advertising Standards Authority slated plugs run by another outfit, Book Your Theory Test Limited.

This lot promised: "If you fail your first theory test we will book your second theory test for free."